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G. H. HAVEN.

LINE FASTENER.

No. 457,276. Patented Aug. 4, 1891.

.proved line-fastener.

UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

GEORGE H. HAVEN, NEW' BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN D.- WVILSON, OF SAME PLACE.

LINE-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 457,276, dated August 4, 1891.

Application filed May 7, 1891. Serial No. 391,888. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. HAVEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Bedford, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Line-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a novel, simple, economical, efficient, and durable line-fastener, which in practical use stands upright and is susceptible of axial rotation for the purpose of accommodating itself to the direction in which the line extends, whereby a series of fasteners suitably arranged will accommodate themselves to the varying directions in which a clothes-line is usually run in a yard or other place and properly fasten the same in the position to which adjusted.

To accomplish this object my invention involves the features of construction and the combination or arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed, reference be- .ing made to the accompanying drawings, in

which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my im- Fig.2 is a vertical central sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a similar View taken on a line at right angles to the section of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the rotatable portion of the fastener, showing the leaf-spring separated therefrom; and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the socket or base-plate.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, wherein The numeral 1 indicates a base-plate having a central socket or orifice 2 and a series of holes 3 for the passage of screws or other devices suitable for the conditions required to rigidly attach the base-plate to a support such as a post, fence, or other object or structure. The rotatable part of the line-fastener is composed of an angular or other suitably-shaped block or foot-piece 4, having a depending cylindrical journal or spindle 5, which extends from the under surface of the block or footpiece, and, as here shown, is tapering or conical. The journal or spindle is arranged eccentrically upon the block or foot-piece, while such block or foot-piece carries an oscillating or swinging grip-pawl arranged in coincidence with the center of the block or foot-piece in such manner that the axis of the journal or spindle is not in the vertical plane in which the grip-pawl oscillates or swings. The block or foot-piece is provided with a vertically-arranged recess 6, in which the lower end of the pawl 12 is pivoted by means of a transverse horizontal pivot-pin 7. The outermost portion of the recess is closed by the head or lower end S of a leaf-spring 9, such head or lower end of the spring having its vertical edges engaged with vertical grooves 10, formed in the block or foot-piece. The upper free extremity of the leaf-spring serves to yieldingly sustain the grip-pawl and to hold the toothed acting face 12.of such pawl in engagement with the line when the latter is introduced between the pawl and the overhanging hooked extremity 13 of the line-fastener.

V This overhanging hooked extremity 13 forms an integral partof an upright arm or standard 14, made integral with the block or footpiece.

The block or footpiece, journal or spindle,

and upright arm or standard are preferably cast integral of malleable or other metal, by which construction the line-fasteners can be economically manufactured. The journal or spindle 5 accurately fits the socket or orifice 2 in the base-plate 1, and by the peculiar arrangement of parts described and shown when a line is drawn tight and gripped between the pawl and the overhanging hook the tension of the line will tend to turn the rotatable part of the line-fastener, and thereby cause it to accommodate itself to the direction in which.

the line extends.

By constructing the-leaf-spring as described it can be detached if injured or broken and a new one substituted with great convenience.

The overhanging hooked extremity of the upright arm or standard extends in adirection at right angles to the direction in which the grip-pawl oscillates or swings, and consethe eccentrically-journaled block or .footpiece, oscillating in a vertical plane between the vertical planes of the upright arm and the axis of the eccentric journal, and coacting With the hooked extremity of the arm to grip a line substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and aflixedmy seal in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GEORGE H. HAVEN. lVitnesses:

FRANK A. MILLIKEN, FRANK H. GIFFORD. 

